Lake County Sheriff’s Canine Lux, the son of famed Canine Dax, is being credited with locating a teenager who went missing while in mental crisis near Barrington.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office said Canine Lux and his handler, Deputy John Forlenza, were called during the overnight hours from Thursday into Friday.
They received a report of a teenager who was in mental crisis and highly intoxicated.
The teen had gone missing in the unincorporated Barrington area and was on foot.
His family was “obviously very concerned” about him, the sheriff’s office said. They were called around 12:22 a.m. Friday.
Canine Lux conducted a track and ended up locating the subject near a lake around 12:51 a.m.
Deputies called for paramedics to respond to the scene and the teen was transported to an area hospital to receive assistance.
“Good boy K9 Lux!! K9 Lux is already saving lives, following in the PawSteps of his dad, K9 Dax!” the sheriff’s office said Friday.
In February, the sheriff’s office announced that Lux would be joining the agency.
Lux is a direct offspring of the late Canine Dax, a highly decorated member of the sheriff’s canine unit.
Dax was injured on March 3, 2024, while apprehending a person who had committed several felonies and was fleeing near Zion.
Dax injured his neck and spine, which resulted in temporary paralysis in his hindquarters.
He was later diagnosed with cervical and thoracolumbar Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD) and lumbosacral IVDD exacerbated during the apprehension.
The severity of his injuries led to his early retirement and he died on April 12, 2024.